PICO RIVERA – The shooting death of a 57-year-old grandmother last month has prompted an outpouring of response from county and city officials.

Maria Hicks was shot when she tried to stop a teenage tagger near her home.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina said she planned to bulk up funding for programs to fight graffiti to the tune of $500,000 and to prosecute parents for vandalism by their minor children.

The mother and grandmother was also remembered by officials from Monterey Park and Pico Rivera, as well as community members who together donated $6,000 for a scholarship in her name.

“The one thing that has been something of a comfort to my family is the outpouring of support from the community and from individuals,” said Matthew Hicks, Maria’s son.

Molina said the community can do more in the aftermath of Maria Hicks’ killing.

“We need to take ownership as parents,” Molina said.

Molina’s plan to make parents’ liable for the damage caused by their children was co-authored by fellow Supervisor Don Knabe. It would create a committee to hold family accountable civilly for an as-yet-undetermined base fee and restitution for damage.

The pair announced their intent to the board Tuesday. The proposal will be investigated and made more specific over a 30-day period. By Nov. 9, the board will vote on whether to approve the measure.

David Sommers, a Knabe spokesman, said it had not been determined whether the panel will overlap with procedures already in place.

“It’s possible that the report back might be that there already is a strong punishment,” Sommers said.

The panel, similar to traffic court, would be appointed by the Board of Supervisors and would have the power to make offenders pay fines and attend parenting classes under the supervisors’ proposal.

All parents cited by the panel would be required to appear before it, whether their fines were paid or not.

The procedure for minors convicted of vandalism makes parents responsible for repaying any restitution ordered by the court. Civil code states that parents are liable up to $25,000 for restitution for their minor children.

Pico Rivera’s Nuisance Abatement Deputy Gilbert Dominguez said most parents are unaware of their child’s illegal activity, but are cooperative once they are informed.

“Most parents are very willing to work with us and the city as far as a payment program,” Dominguez said.

But some parents are hard to motivate, he said. And there is little that could force them to take a more active role, he added.

To help Dominguez and others in Pico Rivera to fight taggers, Molina pledged half a million dollars to the eradication program at a city council meeting this past week.

The money would benefit Pico Rivera, unincorporated West Whittier and parts of unincorporated South Whittier and would be used to hire new law enforcement officers and staff dedicated solely to graffiti eradication, officials said.

New staff would include three new deputies, a sergeant and a district attorney.

Station Capt. Michael Rothans said the proposal would cost from $500,000 to $600,000. The city already spends about $500,000 each year on graffiti abatement and cleanup.

“The city was always aggressive in their enforcement of stopping vandalism and graffiti,” Rothans said. “What we’re trying to do is expand on the successful program the city of Pico Rivera already has in place.”

Pico Rivera would also help to cover some costs such as the cost of one of the deputies and half the cost of hiring a district attorney. City Manager Charles Fuentes said the exact contribution had not been decided. But he wants additional funds to increase the advances made by the Graffiti Tracker program in the city, which uses GPS-equipped cameras to document and categorize graffiti.

So far, the system has led to 68 arrests and $62,700 in court- ordered restitution.

“The next phase needs to be focused on the more hard core gang banger element,” Fuentes said. “And that’s where Supervisor Molina wants to come in.”

Pico Rivera Mayor Ron Beilke is hopeful that the funding and tougher penalties would have the desired effect, especially in light of Hicks’ death.

“Changes will come through this event,” Beilke said. “Things will get better.”

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